WASAGA BEACH - The Brokerlink Midget Shamrocks represented Parry Sound at the Wasaga Beach Regional Silver Stick Midget B Tournament held December 27 to 29.
Coaches Les Badger, Brian McLeod and Trainer Mike Conn had high hopes for the young men as they started the tournament Thursday morning.
Brandon Badger manned the pipes as the Parry Sound team faced Ennismore in their first game. The aggressive Ennismore Eagles managed to score twice on the power play as the Shamrocks paraded to the penalty box. Brokerlink did not play up to their calibre as the team dropped the first game of their tournament 2-0.
In the evening game, the Brokerlink Midgets faced their new rivals the Oro Thunder. Tanner Emerson backed the team in net as the puck dropped at 8:30 p.m. The Parry Sound Club dialled back on the penalties, but Oro was tenacious in their pursuit of goals. Oro opened the scoring, but Parry Sound answered in the second period as Connor Scott fed Connor McDougall. Later in the second, Oro moved ahead, but Collin Badger sauced to Scott and Tyler Conn found the net to tie the game late in the third. Seconds later Oro struck again to take the 3-2 lead and hand Parry Sound their second loss of the tournament.
After a good night’s rest, the Brokerlink Shamrocks were ready to meet the Penetang Flames with B. Badger in net. Winston Badger passed to Stuart Thornton and found Carson Lacey on the right wing to beat the Flame tender to take the lead 1-0 in the first period. Off a face-off in the second, JR Tudhope slapped on net where Cam Johnson shot and McDougall deposited his first of the game. Late in the second, Johnson fed McDougall and Scott deposited the third goal. Parry Sound wasn’t finished as they deposited two more goals in the third. Scott found C Badger for the shot and McDougall cleaned up for his second of the game. McDougall deposited his third for the hat trick as Johnson and Scott assisted for the 5-0 victory.
Brokerlink ended the round robin tournament with one win and two losses and a plus-one goals for/against. This was enough to advance to the playoff round on Saturday in which Parry Sound faced Ennismore once again.
This time, Parry Sound played a very disciplined game with all offensive and defensive cylinders firing, as B. Badger manned the Brokerlink mesh. Midway through the first a beautiful goal by Scott and assisted by McDougall opened the scoring. The hard fought game was nail biting for the Parry Sound fans. It wasn’t until late in the third, that the Parry Sound entourage could breathe a little easier as Conn deposited one on the feed from Austin Salerno. Parry Sound Brokerlink Midgets won 2-0 to advance to the final against hometown Wasaga Beach.
Saturday night, at the final against the home town Midget B Wasaga Beach Stars, the Parry Sound Brokerlink Shamrock net minder Tanner Emerson manned the pipes. As the puck dropped, the full attendance of fans was in for a terrific game. Parry Sound opened the scoring as Tristan Berry fed W. Badger and McDougall found the mesh to take a 1-0 lead. The Stars answered back late in the first to tie the game at one.
The Stars notched a goal in the second to take the lead into the intermission. Parry Sound came out firing in the third. At the halfway point of the third, McDougall passed to Berry at the point who found Thornton for the marker and the tying goal. Minutes later, Thornton blasted a shot that was tipped by Lacey to W Badger for the go-ahead goal. As the Wasaga Beach Stars battled for the tying goal, Parry Sound united to defend the lead. T. Conn picked the puck in the Stars end and put it through the net minder to take a commanding 4-2 lead with 36 seconds remaining in the game. Team play, disciplined hockey, and camaraderie, illustrated in the last three games had the fans cheering for the young men wearing the Shamrock jerseys.
Thank you to our team sponsor Brokerlink, the players, the coaching staff, trainer, manager Lana Whetham, parents and fans for supporting the team throughout the 2012 year. The Midget B Parry Sound Brokerlink Shamrocks will represent our region at the International Silver Stick in Forest (Sarnia) on the January 11 weekend.
They should be very proud for the way they conducted themselves, never giving up, working hard, and for being good ambassadors for Parry Sound.
Good luck!
This Friday, Jan. 4, the Midget Shamrocks will play at the Bobby Orr Community Centre at 8:30 p.m. Come on out and cheer them on!